To resolve the impasse over the implementation of its ambitious programme to educate all in the 6-14 age group over the next five years, the Centre has agreed to make concessions by

picking up a larger part of the Rs 1,74,000 crore bill estimated by the ministry of human resource development.

According to a Planning Commission official, the commission has now proposed that states shoulder only 40 per cent of the total Plan outlay in the first phase, 45 per cent in the second and 50 per cent in the third phase. Originally, the Centre had said states must share the burden equally. In the National Development Council meeting in August last year, states unanimously opposed the Centre’s move.

The Plan panel has also told the HRD ministry that the programme can be executed at four-fifth of the costs estimated by the ministry. The ministry had put forth a demand for Rs 1,74,000 crore over the next five years for successfully executing the Right to Educate programme. “The estimates are an over-statement. We believe that with Rs 1,42,000 crore and with states’ help, RTE can be successfully implemented,” the official said.

It was in 2002 that Parliament approved a Constitutional amendment to provide the right to education, but the Centre had failed to introduce a Bill to implement the amendment as states refused to share the financial burden. The Centre then asked the Thirteenth Finance Commission chaired by Vijay Kelkar in July this year to decide how the expenditure should be shared between the Centre and states.

... contd.